Alaa Badr has been a Seattle native for 17 years and is a frequent speaker at public forums representing American Muslims and Islam; he considers himself both a teacher and a student of Islam. Because of his father’s career as a diplomat, he grew up traveling the world and living in different countries, interacting with various cultures,and learning different languages. Originally from Egypt, Mr. Badr has also done various professional international assignment for technology companies in the Middle East, France, Canada, Japan and Russia leading global technology teams. He currently teaches a The Muslims Experience Class at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound. He speaks 4 languages and lives in Seattle WA with his wife and three girls.

Ramzy Baroud is a US-Palestinian journalist, media consultant, an author, internationally-syndicated columnist, Editor of Palestine Chronicle (1999-present), former Managing Editor of London-based Middle East Eye, former Editor-in-Chief of The Brunei Times and former Deputy Managing Editor of Al Jazeera online.

Baroud is the author of six books and a contributor to many others; his latest volume , co-edited with Ilan Pappe is Our Vision for Liberation: Engaged Palestinian Leaders and Intellectuals Speak Out. His books are translated to many languages including French, Turkish, Arabic, Korean, Malayalam, among others.

Wesam Shahed is a first-generation Palestinian-American from Chicago, Illinois. He serves as an Policy Advisor - Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO), the second-largest prosecutor’s office in the US. Wesam has not only been recognized as one of the most promising young talents in the CCSAO, but he has also been internationally recognized in the Arab American Foundation’s “30 Under 30.” Wesam recently gave a TEDx Talk on criminal justice reform titled "Does Justice Always Require a Conviction?" discussing misconceptions about prosecutors and what alternative prosecution methods need to be focused on. Wesam’s involvement ranges far beyond his day job, as he is the Finance Director for the first Muslim and Palestinian American to be elected by the Democratic Party into Illinois’s House Legislature in 2023. At only 24, Wesam earned his B.A. in Pre-Law: Business Management from Loyola University Chicago and his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Michigan State University College of Law. Wesam holds executive leadership positions for the Arab Professional Business Association (APBA), the Arab American Bar Association, the Muslim Civic Coalition, the AB Korkor Mental Health Foundation, the Shriver Center on Poverty Law, and the ACLU.

Imam Akram Baioumy serves as the Imam of MAPS Seattle. He graduated from the School of Psychology at the University of Washington in 2019. He then moved to Dallas, Texas for a year to complete the Islamic Studies Intensive seminary at Qalam Institute and is currently enrolled in the final year of the ‘Aalamiyyah program. He has found a passion in the Islamic Sciences and is committed to always keep studying. He also serves as a youth Islamic studies teacher at MAPS where he teaches Fiqh, Aqeedah, Tafsir, and Seerah.

Aneelah Afzali is the Executive Director of the American Muslim Empowerment Network at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound (MAPS-AMEN). She also serves as a Governing Board Member of the Faith Action Network; an Advisory Board Member of Washington For Black Lives; on the Steering Committee of the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network; a Founding Member of AI and Faith; and a member of the Washington Tech Equity Coalition, Everytown for Gun Safety's Interfaith Advisory Council, Shoulder to Shoulder's Consultative Circle, and the national Combating Islamophobia Roundtable. As an Afghan-American, Aneelah is also currently partnering with the Statewide Refugee Coordinator to help coordinate the welcome and resettlement of Afghan refugees in Washington state.

Jen Marlowe is an author/documentary filmmaker/playwright/journalist and human rights/social justice activist. She is the founder of Donkeysaddle Projects, which uses film, writing, theatre and other artistic platforms to amplify the resilience and courage of those who have been marginalized and oppressed and are choosing resistance with humanity and dignity. She is also the part-time Consulting Producer for Just Vision, an organization that fills a media gap on Israel-Palestine through independent storytelling and strategic audience engagement, and was the co-producer of their film Naila and the Uprising (2017).

Jen's most recent documentary project was the 5-part video series, Remembering the Gaza War, which was produced jointly by Donkeysaddle Projects, Just Vision and the IMEU. Her previous film, Witness Bahrain (2015), documents the aftermath of the Bahraini regime's crackdown on pro-democracy and human rights activists.

Jen's short film One Family in Gaza (2011) profiled one family's experience during and after the 2009 assault on the Gaza Strip. One Family in Gaza received the Audience Award at the Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival in 2013.